1. Begin with the rooms you know

Create a property manually, give it a clear name, then open Build the layout. Draw the biggest spaces first: living room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom. At this stage, getting the order and connections right matters more than perfection.

Choose Draw rectangle · drag for a simple room or Draw room · click corners for an irregular outline. Work from the inside faces of the walls and keep shared edges aligned. Use the example apartment to practise the tools before creating your own saved property.

2. Use measurements where they make the biggest difference

Start with room widths and lengths from a listing, a tape measure or a viewing. If you only know one dimension, use it to establish scale and keep the rest approximate until you can check it.

For an L-shaped room, measure the recess as well as the longest spans. Record door positions by measuring from a known corner. Keep a separate list of measured values and estimates so you know what to revisit.

3. Add doors, stairs and awkward corners

These details decide whether a layout works. Put in the main entrance, internal doors, stairs and any alcoves before you start testing furniture. A small change to a doorway can change how a whole room feels.

Create each storey as a separate level. HouseLens explores levels independently, so check the stair footprint and room connections on each plan rather than expecting to walk continuously between floors.

4. Treat photos as evidence, not measurements

Listing photos are useful for window positions, kitchen runs and where rooms lead, but lenses distort space. Use them to improve the model, not to replace a measurement.

5. Keep refining after the viewing

Update the rooms that matter most after you visit. A model that helps compare sofa positions, storage or circulation can be valuable even when some dimensions remain approximate.

Choose Build 3D to inspect the result, then return to the editor to correct it. The 3D walkthrough guide explains scale checks and exploration. Use the furniture-fit guide when you have a specific item to test.

What to measure at the property

  • Internal room lengths, widths and any recesses.
  • Door widths, their distance from corners and their swing direction.
  • Windows, radiators and built-in storage that affect furniture placement.
  • Ceiling height where slopes, beams or tall furniture matter.

If a floor plan becomes available later, upload it and compare it with your model. Correct differences using measurements rather than assuming either drawing is exact.